Blurry Vision During Pregnancy: Reasons and Treatment

Pregnancy is the most magical phase of your life. You’re, after all, waiting to hold a cuddly little one after passing the 9-month-long journey. With the baby inside you, you’ll face a lot of changes in your body, as well as your mind. You’ll feel nauseous, constipated, swollen, and anxious. There are also chances that you’ll get signs of blurry vision during pregnancy.

Since visiting the doctor is the norm during your pregnancy, by visiting the healthcare you’d come to know that you’re suffering from vision problems is common. There are chances that your eyes may become red, itchy,  or can give a grainy feeling from the first trimester to the last.

You’d need to explore more about pregnancy and vision changes.

How Does Pregnancy Cause Blurry Vision?   

According to research, approximately 15% of you during pregnancy may suffer from poor eyesight.

Although this problem can set in at any point during the pregnancy journey, some of you may suffer from blurry vision in the first trimester as early as the 10^th week of your pregnancy. You’ll have other bouts of blurry vision by the time you reach the middle second trimester or third trimester. 

So, from the first trimester of your pregnancy to the last several reasons can give rise to blurred vision during pregnancy: 

The Soaring Pregnancy Hormones

Thanks to the soaring hormones, your vision changes during pregnancy. The oestrogen and progesterone levels are responsible for this. The estrogen, for instance, can affect the cornea by making it less stiff and more elastic. This can alter the way light enters the eye and can result in blurry vision.

Pregnancy Swelling

Swelling during pregnancy occurs in the hands, feet, and tissue around the eyes, because of fluid retention in the body. Moreover, The Academy of American Ophthalmology explains that “progesterone-mediated fluid shifts” during pregnancy can lead to changes in vision, including blurry vision. 

Corneal Thickness or Oedema

Alterations in corneal curvature may occur during pregnancy, because of the pregnancy hormonal fluctuations, and it may increase in the third trimester of pregnancy. Corneal thickness in the later stage or third trimester of pregnancy can make your eyes feel more sensitive and can further give rise to blurred vision. 

Dryness in Eyes

During pregnancy, the tear production in the eyes reduces, making your eyes dry, itchy, and irritated. Increasing dryness can also make wearing contact lenses less comfortable and cause general discomfort in the eyes. 

Pregnancy Dizziness

Hormonal fluctuations during your pregnancy, and your body weight can give rise to pregnancy dizziness. Although pregnancy dizziness is a temporary symptom, blurred vision takes place because of this dizziness. Along with this, rapid movements and changing position, for instance, getting up from being seated and sitting back on the seat can give rise to blurred vision. 

Changes in the Field of Vision

The pituitary gland tends to grow during pregnancy. It can give rise to the change in the field of vision. This can further show that the peripheral vision and field of vision decrease during pregnancy. 

Pregnancy Health Conditions – Preeclampsia and Gestational Diabetes

Around 2% to 8% of pregnancies are affected by preeclampsia. When you visit the healthcare practitioner after the 32^nd week, the doctor checks the presence of protein in the urine. Moreover, around 14% of pregnancies may suffer from gestational diabetes. Uncontrolled and untreated health conditions like preeclampsia or gestational diabetes can give rise to pregnancy dizziness, faintness, or headaches. 

What are the Ways of Treating Blurred Vision During Pregnancy?

You can’t prevent blurry vision during your pregnancy, but you’ll have to wait until you deliver your baby to get rid of the blurry vision during pregnancy. Your healthcare practitioner can give you eye drops. You will advised to wear sunglasses whenever you’re under the sun. You may tend to limit screen time, take rest as much as possible and perform eye exercises. 

Blurry vision during pregnancy, like all the other pregnancy symptoms, is a serious pregnancy challenge. But, this time when you accept the pregnancy challenges and enjoy the journey.